Address to Kazakh Foreign Minister Tokayev

Mr. Chairman, I would like to welcome Minister Tokayev to the Permanent Council today. As we meet here in Vienna, many of our colleagues are at the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw, which I just left last night and will be returning to, to discuss the continuing efforts to promote democracy and human rights throughout the OSCE area. As we do here, Mr. Minister, we would have also very much welcomed you in Warsaw.

On this solemn anniversary, we cannot help but recall the tragedies of September 11, 2001. Those terrible events have only reinforced our resolve to implement our commitments on human rights. The United States believes strongly that respect for human rights is an essential component of fighting terrorism and ensuring stability and security in our countries.

One of President Bush’s senior appointees, William Taft, the Legal Advisor of the Department of State, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO, predecessor to Mr. Paul Wolfowitz as Under Secretary of Defense, and the former General Counsel of the Department of Defense, reemphasized that message personally, loudly, and clearly in Warsaw yesterday afternoon, that the United States adheres to these principles also in its own practices.

From the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom, the United States has made clear its policy in Central Asia: that real and lasting security and stability absolutely cannot be achieved without meaningful political and economic reform and a solid respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms—without which, all else is on a very shaky foundation.

Mr. Chairman, it is in this context that I must therefore express my Government's continuing deep concern over a pattern of politically motivated incidents in Kazakhstan, which appear intended to intimidate opposition politicians and journalists. This campaign has included corruption trials and convictions of political opposition leaders and the on-going harassment of independent journalists and mass media outlets.

The United States has observed with increasing dismay the escalating campaign of attacks on independent media outlets in Kazakhstan, as well as the systematic intimidation of those journalists who have had the courage to report on political opposition activities and the alleged financial improprieties of senior Kazakhstani officials.

In particular, the United States condemns the attack on independent journalist Sergey Duvanov, who on August 28 was beaten by three unknown assailants outside his apartment in Almaty. A well-established journalist, who has filed stories criticizing official corruption, Duvanov is currently under investigation for "insulting the honor and dignity of the president," although criminal charges have not been filed for that offense.

I met personally with Mr. Duvanov yesterday in Warsaw to discuss the threats to media freedom in Kazakhstan. It is a very unpleasant story.

We note the remarks that President Nazarbayev made in connection with his Constitution Day public appearances last week. We note his expression of outrage over the attack on independent journalist Duvanov, and his admission that Kazakh authorities may have used illegal means to keep some media outlets off the air. However, we need to see not only words—including those that you used this morning, which are good to hear—but, more importantly, we need a more positive course of conduct by your Government.

Mr. Chairman, the rooting out of corruption is essential for establishing good governance and the rule of law. We are not in a position to comment on the guilt or innocence of individuals on trial. Nonetheless, we cannot condone the Government of Kazakhstan's apparent campaign of singling out and selectively targeting for prosecution members of the legitimate political opposition.

One such case involves the two founders of the "Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan" movement, Galymzhan Zhakiyanov and Mukhtar Ablyazov.

We also note with concern that the enactment of a draft Law on Political Parties could, by requiring an unattainable membership threshold for party registration, effectively exclude most if not all of Kazakhstan's existing opposition political parties from participating in efforts to build a democratic political system.

The United States supports ODIHR's assessment of this law.

The United States reiterates its conviction that respect for the right of all Kazakhstanis to participate in a democratic political process is fundamental to Kazakhstan's long-term stability and security.

In his December 2001 joint statement with President Bush, President Nazarbayev made a commitment to strengthen democratic institutions and processes in Kazakhstan. We expect him to live up to this very important commitment.

We therefore urge Kazakhstan's leaders to reverse this antidemocratic trend and to rededicate themselves to protecting and advancing the basic democratic tenets of political pluralism, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, to quote Secretary of State Powell, "If we are really going to prevail over terrorism...we have to do it in a way that respects human dignity and the rights of men and women." Once again, I would like to thank Minister Tokayev for addressing us here today.